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Chapter 24

The next few days Hermione found that Harry was rather quiet, Ron had been temporarily suspended pending a hearing in front of the school governors. Harry was acquitted due the provocation behind the attack. Hermione couldn't work out what was bothering Harry.

"Harry?" She called one evening where both were sat in their common room Harry was watching the fire burning. Harry didn't answer but made a movement to acknowledge Hermione to continue talking.

"Are you ok?" She asked knowing full well that he wasn't.

"I'm fine" Harry whispered. Hermione sat in front of him.

"You and I both know that you're not ok. What's wrong?" She said taking his hand.

Harry sighed knowing Hermione wouldn't stop until he gave in and spoke to her.

"Ron was right" He said quietly

"There's something I never heard before" She said trying to make a joke but apparently failing in that respect. "What was he 'right' on?" She asked gently.

"Everyone I love or is my family dies because of me" Harry whispered trying his hardest to hold back tears. Hermione was in shocked how could Harry think like that?

"That's not true, you are not responsible for any of the deaths!" She reassured as she squeezed his hands. Harry wasn't convinced.

"Yes they were, my parents died protecting me, Sirius died protecting me. They were my family Hermione and now there all dead" He said getting frustrated. Hermione let go of his hands and stood up.

"You don't get it do you Harry? They didn't die because of you. They died FOR you. Your parents died doing the one thing that any parent will do. Protecting their child. Sirius died protecting you yes but he went down fighting, the one thing we know he never stopped doing. Your family isn't just blood Harry. You don't realise just how special you really are and what people are willing to do for you. They will fight in your honour they will defend in your honour and they will die for you because that's how much you mean to them Harry." Harry said there in silence. He didn't think of it that way.

"Harry you once told us that we have something that Voldemort doesn't, we have something worth fighting for. If you don't hold onto what your fighting for Harry then you will lose faith and you will lose this war." With that Hermione walked out of their common room and Gryffindor tower all together. She needed to clear her head.

Harry sat still processing everything that Hermione had just said to him. 'I never wanted anyone to die for me' he kept telling himself but he heard Hermione's soothing voice telling him 'They fight in your honour' Harry had never had the self confidence to believe that he was as appreciated by those that loved him as he actually was. Never believing he was good enough for people. But here and now Hermione had just proved that to him. He needed to pull himself out of his funk. He had a war to win, and a beautiful girl to spend the rest of his life with. He pulled out the marauders map.

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good"

Harry observed the map and eventually spotted Hermione in an empty classroom. With the invisibility cloak in hand he set off to find her.

Hermione sat on a desk in an empty classroom her oppugno spell working perfectly giving her the sense of being home. Home with her parents and relaxing. Hermione's eyes were closed as she day dreamed. Harry walked into the classroom and noticed her tranquil state. He smiled to himself and shifted into his Animagus form, ever since the day of the attack he found that he could do it almost at will. He took off silently and landed next to Hermione whose eyes sprung open reaching for her wand before she noticed who the intruder was.

"I'm jealous that I can't shift into my Animagus form yet" She said stroking the head of the hawk. Hermione noticed that the hawk did have traits of Harry, the eyes were still the same colour and she couldn't help but notice and slight patch of white were his scar should have been.

"Shift back into human Harry please" She whispered. The valiant bird jumped off the table and shifted back into Harry.

"I never dreamed the day id be able to do something before the brightest witch of our age" He joked before sitting on the table where he originally was.

"Don't get used to it" She smiled before looking away. Harry took a deep breath.

"I always believed that if I was to succeed in my life I would have to do it by myself. Anyone else would get hurt or killed. I couldn't stand the thought of losing anyone else and after Sirius well that just seemed to prove my own fears. That was until what you said to me, 'Family is not just blood' it seems only fitting that the smartest creature minus Hedwig and the smartest witch of our generation would say those words to me. I didn't believe I had anyone left. Now I know I have people to call family. Because you and Fawkes were right. Family isn't just blood. Remus and Tonks are my family. Neville and Luna are my family. Dobby is my family. But most of all you Hermione, your more than just my family. You're the other half of me. Without you I know that I can't win but with you by my side I know that we will have a life together, growing old together" He said a tear rolling down his cheek. Hermione on the other hand was full blown crying. She launched herself at him and was kissing his neck muttering "I love you" over and over again.

"I love you too" He whispered trying very hard not to ruin the moment by being as turned on as he was but failing miserably. Hermione noticed.

"Getting excited are we Mr. Potter?" She asked seductively.

"Well what can I say sexy girls turn me on" He whispered into her ear.

"I'll tell you what, we'll race, If I get back to our common room first you take care of that yourself, you beat me back and well ill leave that to your imagination." She said before breaking into a sprint. Harry was hot on her tail. They were neck and neck until the last flight of stairs when Hermione broke away. Harry may have been a quiditch Player but that was flying a broom he was built for long distance running. He ran into the common room to find Hermione sitting on the back of the couch.

"You lose" She said before walking over to him and kissing him senseless.

"I should lose more often" He managed to say between kisses.

Hermione smiled and took his hand walking to her bedroom.

That night would later be the reason Harry saved the world.

The following morning Harry awoke to find he was being slept on himself. Hermione had decided to use his chest as her new pillow. Harry didn't care at all.

"You are so beautiful" He whispered. Hermione still seemed to be out for the count. Harry smiled and closed his eyes falling back to sleep dreaming of his brunette goddess.

AN: Keep the reviews coming guys and galls!